ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER

THE ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER

Staycation now takes on a whole new meaning as we batten down the hatches and avoid coming into contact with others.

If you were meant to be sunning yourself by the sea, climbing mountains, camping or visiting famous landmarks, you can still enjoy yourself from the comfort of your own home – with no mosquitos, no tummy upsets and your own bed and pillow at the end of the day.

If museums, history and art galleries are your thing, Google Arts and Culture (artsandculture.google.com) is a great place to start. There, you can browse collections from art galleries all over the world – from the Uffizi in Florence to MoMa in New York. Individual museums have some exhibits available in digital form direct from their own websites. The British Library has a wealth of collections online including maps, international music, British newspapers and even a sound archive of British dialects. BBC Sounds is a great resource – seek out A History of the World in 100 Objects.

Lonely Planet is a good online resource.

If the Great Outdoors is your thing, YouTube.com has a huge selection of walks and climbs, uploaded by travel companies or travellers wanting to share their adventures. Search national parks including Yosemite in California, Fjordland in New Zealand, Uluru in Australia, and Torres del Paine in Patagonia. Lonely Planet is a good online resource with videos on topics like The World’s Most Amazing Scenic Train Journeys and Looking for Polar Bears in Manitoba. Chester Zoo and Edinburgh Zoo has a live webcam on many of its animals and the photographs online at National Geographic are unrivalled. There’s nothing less relaxing than having your yoga retreat cancelled but if you have a mat or a thick blanket, you can still stretch and even meditate at home.

If you still have to take your annual leave be sure to treat yourself. Treat yourself to a cocktail or a mocktail – a slice of pineapple on the edge of your glass can make all the difference.

Give yourself time to read books or borrow for free from the collection at www.openlibrary.org. If the rain sets in, get out the old board games or join www.boardgamearena.com for free and test your skills. Listen to your favourite albums, watch your top 10 films and keep in touch with your friends.

Whatever you do, don’t open an email…